Opal Mae Novotny, d. Jan. 23, 2013

Opal Mae Novotny, 94, died Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, at South Wind Hospice Home in Pratt. She was born Nov. 2, 1918 in Sawyer, the daughter of Z.N. and Maude (Teghtmeyer) Spicer.

She graduated from Sawyer High School in 1936, and attended Emporia State University. She taught in one-room schools near Sawyer until marrying Willie Novotny in Corvallis, Ore., in 1941. She lived to serve others as a friend, teacher, volunteer, and leader. She worked at the Pratt Public Library, Pratt Regional Medical Center switchboard, South Wind Hospice Thrift Shop and Pratt County Historical Museum. She also served in the Democrat Women's Club, Sawyer United Methodist Church, McCurdy Methodist School and local 4-H clubs in many ways.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a daughter Sara, two brothers, and three sisters.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, where family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Sunday. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday at the Sawyer United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jan Blasi and Pastor Louis Keeling officiating. Burial will be in the Coats Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Sawyer United Methodist Church or to South Wind Hospice both in care of the mortuary. Condolences may be left at www.larrisonmortuary.com